The word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. It is actually a theological word coined in the fourth century A.D. at the Council of Nicene to describe a spiritual concept. Because of this, it has become a doctrine that many individuals will attack as non-scriptural. "In the early centuries of its existence, the Catholic Church, in order to codify and crystallize all of the biblical data on the Holy Trinity, and to counter various heresies, produced Creeds. The most famous of these are the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, recited in church by most Catholics regularly. But the Athanasian Creed is the classic statement of Trinitarian theology. It was not written by St. Athanasius, but was later named after this individual who fought (almost single-handedly at times) against the Arian heretics of the fourth century, who denied the Trinity. Its authorship and precise dating are, strangely enough, shrouded in mystery, but scholars believe it probably originated in the middle of the fifth century in southern France (by literary deduction, it can almost certainly be dated no earlier than 415, nor later than 542)."

The doctrine of the trinity avows God as being one in essence but three separate and distinct persons who possess equal, perfect, eternal and infinite identical essence which jointly constitutes God. Trinity is used to describe three distinct persons in one Godhead. Godhead is the Scriptural term for this doctrine, and is the term which will be used for the remainder of this article. Hence, the critics are correct "Trinity" does not appear in Scripture, but they are wrong as the doctrine taught by the theological name Trinity does have a Scriptural name, it is called Godhead!

We must state clearly and concisely that there is only one God nature or being. "This divine being is tri-personal, involving differences between the Father, Son, and Spirit." These three individuals are joined together as partakers of precisely the identical character and splendor of God. Consequently, there is only one true God, but in the union of the Godhead there are three equal, eternal persons. These three are therefore equal in essence and substance, but unique in sustenance. The following chart will give a brief glance as to how alike the three persons are!

ATTRIBUTES

Called God

Creator

Resurrects

Indwells

Everywhere

All knowing

Sanctifies

Life giver

Fellowship

Eternal

A Will

Speaks

Love

Searches the heart

FATHER

Phil. 1:2

Isa. 64:8; 44:24

1 Thess.1:10

2 Cor. 6:16

1 Kings 8:27

1 John 3:20

1 Thess. 5:23

Gen. 2:7

1 John 1:3

Ps. 90:2

Luke 22:42

Matt. 3:17

John 3:16

Jer. 17:10

SON

John 1:1,14

John 1:3

John10:7

Col. 1:27

Matt. 28:20

John 16:30

Heb. 2:11

John 1:3

1 Cor. 1:9

Micah 5:1-2

Luke 22:42

Luke 5:20

Eph. 5: 25

Rev. 2:23

Spirit

Acts 5:3-4

Col. 1:15-17

Rom. 8:11

Eph.1:13-14

Psa. 139:7-10

1 Cor.2:10-11

1 Pet.1:2

2 Cor. 3:6,8

Phil. 2:1

Rom. 8:11

1 Cor. 12:11

Acts 8:29

Rom. 15:30

1 Cor. 2:10

Each person of the Godhead has the same essence, hence, God is described as one (like in 1 John 5:7); however they are distinct as individuals. "There is unity within the Godhead. But there is also plurality: Threeness. This does not mean that God is one and three in the same sense; that would be contradictory. God is one in one sense: essence, and three in another sense: persons. This is unique to Christianity. Both Judaism and Islam are monotheistic, but neither is Trinitarian. In the Christian doctrine, the unity and plurality of God are both essential."

Separations are made between the individuals of the Godhead, as described in the following verse:

2Co 13:14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (God the Son), and the love of God (God the Father), and the communion of the Holy Ghost (God the Spirit), be with you all. Amen.

This verse proves that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all individuals. The verse has a three-part combination that demands grace, love, and fellowship be equally ascribed to three corresponding persons.

When divine essence is the subject, God is said to be one. When divine persons are the subject, distinction is made between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

For this reason we have different Hebrew names for God. The plural noun Elohim implies more than one person in the Godhead. The singular noun JHWH (Adonai, Jahweh, or Jehovah) is used to distinguish between the persons. Elohim emphasizes the one essence of God.

Scripture Verification

The plural noun for God, Elohim, is used in such passages as Gen 1:26, 3:22.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Gen 11:5 And the LORD (yeh-ho-vaw' the selfExistent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord.) came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Gen 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Gen 11:7 Go to, let us (Elohim is therefore also Jehovah - He is more than one; He is plural, yet one. (This passage can not state the doctrine of the Godhead any clearer) go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

We also have passages like Psa 110:1 "The Lord [God the Father] said to my [David's] Lord [God the Son]." This distinction is also depicted inPsa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD (God the Father) hath said unto me (God the Son), Thou art my Son; this day (Day of incarnation) have I begotten thee.

This is quoted three times in the New Testament, in Acts 13:33, Heb 1:5, and Heb 5:5.

Isa 48:16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I (God the Father): and now the Lord GOD (God the Son), and his Spirit (God the Holy Ghost), hath sent me

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name (authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

In John 10:30, Jesus said to the crowd, "I and my Father are one." He was referring to divine essence. The Father and the Son are two distinct persons in the Godhead, but they have identical essence.

John 14:16 And I (God the Son) will pray the Father (God the Father), and he shall give you another Comforter (God the Holy Ghost), that he may abide with you for ever;

The next verse explains that the Comforter is said to be "Even the Spirit of truth... for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Thomas called Jesus both Lord and God when he saw Him in His resurrection body.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Another passage, which proves the Godhead, is 1Co 12:4-6:

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit (God the Holy Ghost). And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord (God the Son). And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God (God the Father) which worketh all in all.

1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Holy Ghost called God, hence He is not just a force, power, or energy, He is God).